Survey unveils movement to the ‘green’ side

Talk about a movement. This green thing is going into warp speed, as evidenced by this: A growing number of residents of North Carolina and South Carolina say that rising demand for electricity can be met through conservation rather than by building more power plants.

That’s a key finding of a poll commissioned by Duke Energy Carolinas that reflects a distinct shift in public opinion from two years ago.

In the latest poll, 43 percent of 1,100 North Carolina and South Carolina residents surveyed responded positively to the statement that “people and companies will learn to conserve energy and use significantly less electricity.” Only 30 percent agreed that “government will give permission for more power plants to be built.”

Two years ago, when Duke hired Frederick Polls of Arlington, Va., to poll residents of the Carolinas on energy issues, 44 percent thought it more likely that governments would approve construction of additional power plants. In that poll, only 26 percent considered conservation the more likely response to rising demand for electricity.

Pollster Keith Frederick says some of the shift in opinion can be attributed to the recession. People are mindful of saving money nowadays, and that makes them think about using less electricity, he says.

But he also notes that support for conservation has been growing; it was cited by about 37 percent of the respondents in last year’s Duke poll.

Biz is glad to know that UNC students are getting some practical education.

The school’s Honors Program Student Executive Board held a session Halloween week on how to survive a zombie attack. The session, according to The Daily Tar Heel student newspaper, covered which buildings on campus are good hiding places – Cobb Residence Hall is ideal – and what types of weapons to grab – something that can smash a zombie’s skull.

Attendees were asked to bring canned goods to help the Inter-Faith Council’s Community Shelter.

Whither Imus?

That’s the question plenty of Triangle radio listeners had after recent programming changes at sports radio station WDNC 620 AM. Adam Gold and Joe Ovies now occupy the morning slot on 620, bumping the I-Man to the curb ... at least for now.

“He’s got a significant following in that market,” says Louis Adams, a spokesman for Citadel Media, which syndicates the controversial host’s program. “We’ve heard from a lot of his fans.”

While he wouldn’t discuss specifics, Adams says his company is taking steps to ensure that folks in the Triangle will be able to hear Don Imus again soon.

Eat til ya can’t, and here are some new choices:

• Winston-Salem-based Dewey’s Bakery is making a push into the Triangle with holiday outlets planned at Cameron Village and Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh and at Cary Towne Center in Cary. The stores will be open in November and December, selling Moravian cookies, other sweets and coffees.

• A Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurant will open on Nov. 9 at 767 Huffman Mill Road in Burlington, which is about a quarter-mile from Interstate 40. Franchise owner Joey Cathey, a former owner of Special Events Rentals in Raleigh, says the Burlington restaurant will seat 180 people, plus an outdoor patio.

• Noodles & Company will open its first restaurant in Cary, and its fourth in the Triangle, on Nov. 6 at 200 Crossroads Blvd.

• The new RallyPoint Sport Grill has opened in Cary at 1837 N. Harrison Ave. Raleigh developer Drew Schenck is the face behind the business as he returns to his roots, having operated a Remington Grill restaurant earlier in his career.

• Raleigh-based Apple Gold Group, one of the largest franchisees of Applebee’s restaurants in the country, will open its newest location at the intersection of N.C. 43 and Interstate 40 in Johnston County with a pre-opening event and fundraiser on Nov. 7.

The torch has been passed from John Linderman to Ed Fritsch.

Calm down, commercial real estate community. There’s not been a big shakeup among two big, local companies. The news is that Fritsch is taking over from Linderman as chairman of the board of the YMCA of the Triangle.

Linderman, president and CEO of Grubb & Ellis/Thomas Linderman Graham, served as the Y chair for the past two years. Fritsch, CEO of Highwoods Properties, now handles the gavel.

The Y’s We Build People campaign, which raises money for children, families and adults to participate in YMCA programs, is currently under way. Since 2007, the campaign has raised more than $6.5 million.

Biz attended Roger Daltrey’s recent concert at the Durham Performing Arts Center and is happy to report that The Who frontman still puts on quite a show.

Since it was a relatively intimate setting – as opposed to a giant arena – Daltrey spent a lot of time talking to the audience, sharing stories about the songs he was about to perform. The set list included Who classics such as “Baba O’Riley,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” and “Going Mobile.” Daltrey also mixed in the less-known “Pictures of Lily” – a Biz favorite – a Johnny Cash medley and songs from his solo career.

One thing Biz found amusing: Daltrey may not be the rock sex symbol he was in the 1960s and ‘70s, but that didn’t stop him from showing a little skin. Biz noticed that the singer’s shirt was about a third of the way unbuttoned at the start of the show, and was completely unbuttoned by the end.

One more thing: Don’t think Biz missed the fact that Clancy & Theys head honcho Tim Clancy was among those rocking out near the stage ...

Roy Williams has faced off against the best coaches in the country in high-stakes games without getting flustered. But a few words from Scott Stankavage managed to stop the Tar Heels men’s basketball coach in his tracks.

Stankavage, a leader at commercial real estate firm Trinity Partners, caught up with Williams at the Triangle Tip Off Luncheon on Oct. 29. The two have known each other since the early 1980s, when Stankavage was a quarterback on the UNC football team and Williams coached the school’s JV basketball team.

Stankavage, 47, had big news for his old friend: The broker’s wife is pregnant with triplets. “That dropped his jaw,” says Stankavage. “He sort of stepped back and shook his head and wished me well.”

The event, which was organized by the Triangle Sports Commission, featured a panel discussion with four of the area’s collegiate men’s basketball coaches: Williams, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, NCSU’s Sidney Lowe and North Carolina Central’s LeVelle Moton, a relative youngster who is in his first year as a head coach.

After the event, Stankavage chatted briefly with Moton, which was a delight for the young coach. Turns out that Moton used to pretend he was Stankavage when he played quarterback in the back yard growing up.

“It made me feel kind of old,” Stankavage mused.

But not as old as those triplets will make him feel ...

One of Biz’s favorite annual charity fundraisers has kicked off.

For the 32nd year, Wake County Human Services and the North Carolina Bankers Association have launched their Warmth for Wake campaign to raise money to keep the heat on for Wake’s needy during the cold winter months.

Over the years, Warmth for Wake has provided fuel assistance for thousands of individuals from low-income households in Wake County. No administrative costs are taken from contributions. Every penny raised goes directly to those who need it.

During last year’s campaign, Warmth for Wake assisted an estimated 200 households. Contributions received from individuals, groups and companies during the 2008-09 season totaled $29,500, and more than 40 homes received free firewood. Since the campaign's inception in 1977, more than $1 million has been raised. Contributions are accepted at any Wake County bank.

More than 200 people showed up for North Carolina State University’s fifth annual BioSciences Forum on Oct. 30 at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in RTP.

Scott Uknes, vice president of business development at Morrisville biotechnology company Athenix, was among the speakers. After his talk took the audience through the history of genetically modified food, he was presented a box that held a gift. “I hope it’s a plant,” Uknes joked. “Or a greenhouse.”

It was a pen.

Sam Straight, executive-in-residence in biosciences and supply chain management at NCSU, did Uknes one better. “Genetically modified ink,” he quipped.